Is topical diclofenac essential before and after uneventful phacoemulsification cataract surgery?

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of preoperative and postoperative addition of topical diclofenac to chloramphenicol/dexamethasone in patients undergoing uneventful phacoemulsification cataract surgery.

Methods: Patients were randomized to (1) chloramphenicol 0.5%-dexamethasone 0.1%, 1 drop 4 times a day (n=41), or (2) chloramphenicol 0.5%-dexamethasone 0.1%, 1 drop 4 times a day, plus diclofenac 0.1%, 1 drop 3 times a day (n=38). Patients in the second group also received diclofenac 0.1% for 3 days before surgery. Topical treatment was administered for 28 days after phacoemulsification. On postoperative days 1, 14, and 28, best corrected visual acuity, macular thickness, endothelial cell density, and central corneal thickness (CCT) were measured.

Results: The 2 groups did not have a statistically significant difference for CCT, endothelial cell density, macular thickness, and visual acuity at the 3 time points of the follow-up period.

Conclusions: The addition of diclofenac did not seem to offer any additional benefit after uneventful phacoemulsification.